Unbeaten Napoleon set to host upset-minded Concord in girls playoff action
By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
Napoleon – Rick Saldana knows the gravity of the challenge his Concord girls basketball team faces later this afternoon.
He also understands the reality of playoff basketball.
Saldana and the Yellowjackets head to Napoleon at 5:30 p.m. this afternoon to face the unbeaten Pirates in a Class C district semifinal.
“Our philosophy is any team can be beat on any given day,” Saldana said. “They are unbeaten, but not unbeatable.”
Napoleon improved to 21-0 with Monday’s 41-24 victory against Grass Lake.
Concord, now 12-9, got past Michigan Center 45-36.
“It comes down to us playing as a team,” Saldana said. “We need everyone to be involved.”
Lindsey Lehman (18.8 points per game to go with 5.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists) is the focal point of Concord’s attack, and Napoleon coach Steve Smoyer knows that.
“The key word is ‘trying’ to slow her down,” Smoyer said. “We’re very aware of her speed and what she can do. We’ve been able to handle some other kids this year who are similar to her. We won’t do anything special, but we’ll be very aware of her.”
Smoyer said his team’s 21-0 record doesn’t influence an approach to each game.
“Concord is going to be a very aggressive team, and we know that. We have to be at our best. We have to be ready to play,” he said. “The key for us is playing our game on both ends. We’ve done a good job of that all year.”
Saldana said the key for his team is keeping things close for as long as possible.
“If we can slow the pace down and possess the ball in the first half, we’ll hang with them,” he said. “If we can keep it within six or eight points in the fourth, we’ll have a chance.”
Wednesday’s winner faces Vandercook Lake or Hanover-Horton Friday at 7 p.m. in the final.
“That’s the goal right now,” Smoyer said of having a chance to win the district. “We’re playing at home and we have a chance to win it in our gym. But it is still one team and one game at a time.”
Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports. You can reach him at mjm12@albion.edu. He’s also the author of ‘Love, Defined; A Dedication to the Love, Sacrifice, and Magic of Motherhood.’
Love, Defined is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tate Publishing or by contacting Mike directly.